Eight years for accused in kidnap, theft case

A Chinese man who kidnapped, robbed and demanded €8,000 from a fellow national has been sentenced to eight years in prison by Judge Frank O’Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Liang Chen (aged 25) of Charlemont, Griffith Avenue, Marino was convicted by a jury last December of falsely imprisoning Mr Liu Xiao Lin at George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, robbing him of €2,000 and attempting to extort €8,000 from him on October 8, 2002. It took just over three hours to find him guilty on day four of the trial.

Judge O’Donnell said Chen’s "involvement was chilling and sinister in a strange and intriguing tale of violence against a brave young man". He complimented Mr Lin on coming to court from China to give evidence which he said obviously impressed the jury.

He noted that Mr Lin was specifically targeted because of his parents "apparent success" in China and that Chen had been the "chief executive of the plot". Mr Lin had returned to his native country even though he had intended to finish his education in Ireland and his parents have experienced a significant financial shortfall having spent their savings to ensure their son’s safe return.

Judge O’Donnell also complimented the Gardaí on their technical work which helped to "nail Chen".

He sentenced Chen to eight years in prison but suspended the last three having taken into account that he would be serving time in prison here which would be more difficult for him than an Irish person.

Detective Garda Tom Griffin told Mr Dominic McGinn BL prosecuting, at the sentence hearing that at about 12.30pm, Mr Lin and his friend, Su Yang, were kidnapped outside a newsagent in Dun Laoghaire by three Chinese men who said their "boss wanted to see Su Yang".

Mr Lin did not want to go with them but after seeing that Chen was holding a knife, he got into a taxi with him, Su Yang and another man. The other two men followed behind in a second taxi.

Chen directed the taxi driver to Chelmsford Avenue, Ranelagh, where they were brought into a flat. Su Yang was taken away to "see the boss" and he was told they only wanted Su Yang, and would let him, Mr Lin, go later.

Mr Lin said he gave them €2,000, his bank cards and his pin number after being told "to clear his pockets". The men later took €1,269 from his account.

The gang said they wanted €50,000 from Su Yang but he had called his mother and she could only give him €15,000. Mr Lin was then told if he wanted to be released he would have to give Chen the €15,000.

Det Garda Griffin said Mr Lin spent the night in the flat and called several friends the next day to borrow the money. He found he could only raise €3,000 and when it became clear he wasn’t going to be able to raise more money, he said Chen forced him to call his father in China.

Chen first made a phone call from a public telephone in Ranelagh. Mr Lin then called his father having been directed to tell him to give $8,000 US dollars to a named person in China and that Chen would give him (Mr Lin) the equivalent in Chinese Yuan.

His father did not agree to this, so Mr Lin said he had been kidnapped. Chen then spoke to his father and claimed that Mr Lin owed him this money.

Mr Lin said he made a second phone call to his father and Chen told him at about 4am he was free to go. He gave him €50 for a taxi home but warned him that if any of the men were arrested he would get back to him.

Det Garda Griffin said that two other gang members had been arrested and prosecuted for their participation in the crime, one of which was Su Yang who was first thought to be a victim. He was jailed for three years in October 2003 after he admitted that his role was to lure Mr Lin to the gang.

Another Chinese National, who was one of the kidnappers that stayed with Mr Lin during his imprisonment, was jailed for four years on the same date.

Mr Lin has since returned to China, abandoning his studies in Ireland. He and his family are at an economic loss of €3,300 and $8,000 US dollars.

Det Garda Griffin agreed with Ms Fiona Murphy BL, defending, that Mr Lin did not receive any physical injuries during the incident and that Chen had come from a good family background in China where he was well educated.